Today's Feature

Update on Hospital Building.

During this week’s Council meeting City Administrator Tom Short gave an update on the possible occupancy of the former McCune-Brooks Hospital building. When the hospital moved to its new location the City had made tentative arrangements with Missouri Southern State University to occupy the building, however, MSSU decided against the option due to a lack of funding. In the original arrangement the Jasper County Highway Patrol Crime Lab, which was operating from MSSU property, was also to shift operations to Carthage. Though the deal with MSSU fell through, the Crime Lab still expressed an interest in utilizing approximately 8,000 square feet of the 85,000 square foot building. The Missouri Highway Patrol Department has also expressed interest in using 2,000 square feet of the building for evidence storage.

During the recent Council meeting, Short said that the Missouri State Office of Administration, which is responsible for setting the guidelines for all Missouri Agency buildings, had recently been on site to look at the building and conduct preliminary survey work. Short said that the office is in the process of reviewing paperwork and doing a title search, after which a contract may be drafted.

In a report from State Senator Gary Nodler, also the Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, funding in the amount of $1 million has been appropriated to assist with the renovation of the former emergency room and radiology center.

Mayor Jim Woestman has also noted contact with several parties interested in occupying other areas of the building.

Clean Energy Tax Credits.

A news release from the office of Congressman Roy Blunt

Southwest Missouri Congressman Roy Blunt joined a bi-partisan group of lawmakers today in introducing legislation to extend valuable tax credits to promote and develop clean energy alternatives to conventional oil and gas.

"If this country has any hope of achieving true ‘energy independence’ over the next generation, it’s going to take more oil, more natural gas, more coal, and more nuclear – but also a strong commitment to renewable and alternative energy sources that can be found right here in Missouri," said Blunt. "It’s vital for Congress to stand behind these tax credits as a catalyst for clean, reliable and domestic forms of energy."

Added Blunt: "This bill, the Clean Energy Tax Stimulus Act of 2008, ensures the continuation of a common sense and bi-partisan approach to curbing our country’s dependence on foreign oil by utilizing more of our country’s own home-grown energy."

Specifically, the bill would extend critical tax incentives such as the production credit for electricity produced from wind, biomass, hydropower, and geothermal. The legislation additionally includes a 30 percent investment credit for businesses that install solar or fuel cell equipment.

The bill also extends energy efficiency programs that give homeowners tax credits for installing energy efficient furnaces, windows and insulation to make their homes more efficient. For home builders, the legislation rewards contractors for going the extra mile to build more energy efficient homes. And for businesses, the bill helps small and medium-sized firms make energy efficient improvements to commercial buildings.

Mornin'
It seems some months have more activities packed into them than others. Ya get invitations all clustered together; one wedding, an alumni banquet, two graduations. Like most things, I don’t mind these get togethers once I get there, it’s the gettin’ ready part that seems the hardest.

I doubt most folks can remember for sure ever’one that attended a graduation or a weddin’ ceremony. Ta me, I can remember friends pretty well, but as far as aunts and uncles, I’m pretty well guessin’.

I prob’ly fall into the "usually there" category. I have made several weddin’s and a few class graduations, and a couple a class reunions. A couple a weddin’s I was plannin’ on slipped right past me. I figure, chances are, someone will remember me bein’ at at least a couple that I missed.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

Natural Nutrition
By Mari An Willis

In a recent article in Vitamin Research News there was a most interesting article on magnesium. The following is from Vol. 18 Number 1 of VRN.

"Harvard researchers have discovered a link between magnesium intake and the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Their findings are published in two studies in the January 2004 Diabetes Care.

In one study, researchers followed 85,060 women and 42,872 men who had no history of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, or cancer at the study’s start. Magnesium intake was evaluated and after 18 years of follow-up in women and 12 years in men, the study authors documented 4,085 and 1,333 cases of type 2 diabetes. The researchers discovered that the higher the intake of magnesium, the lower the type 2 diabetes risk.

During the six-year followup, the study authors documented 918 confirmed cases of type 2 diabetes.

The more magnesium the subjects consumed, the less their risk of developing this disease. "Magnesium’s protective effect was particularly strong for women with a high body mass index. In addition, women who consumed the most magnesium had lower insulin levels compared to women who consumed less magnesium."

artCentral
Art Notes from Hyde House
By Sally Armstrong, Director of artCentral

We are excited here at artCentral to be planning our annual Membership Show in June. This show will begin with the annual picnic and barbeque on Friday night, June 20th at 6:00, and all members, their guests, and the general public is invited! We have sent out letters to 111 of our artist members to alert them to the show and the dates for entries and registration. They may enter two pieces each if they desire. Those that have received those letters please know that when you return the lower portion of the letter, I will mail to you the pink registration card, which are presently being printed. I will mail the cards as well to all of last year’s participants, and registration cards may be filled out here at the gallery as well, upon art delivery. The days for delivery are Monday, June 8th, Tuesday the 9th and Wednesday the 10th from noon until 5:00, but if someone needs a different delivery day, or a later time, they should call to set that up. I MUST have all entries in by that week! Our judge this year is Jan Hyde, who is an owner of the Hyde Gallery in downtown Springfield. The Hyde Gallery participates in the monthly art walks in Springfield, have a website, and I am pleased for our artists to receive exposure to the market there by having Jan. There are three awards given, and a special Underwriter’s Award to be chosen by Beth Simmons, representing the show’s underwriter, McCune Brooks Regional Hospital. We thank McCune Brooks for agreeing to underwrite our exhibition again this year, and look forward to a large and varied show as we have been pleased to present in the past! Mark you calendars now, and this show will remain on display through July the 6th.